Table 2 Analysis of patients with adverse events and discontinuations

All cause

   Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

16

6,388

17

32

0.6 (0.53 to 0.63)^a

6.7 (5.8 to 7.8)^b

   NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

10

3,690

26

32

0.9 (0.80 to 0.99)^a

19 (13 to 31)^b

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)

12

5,186

17

22

0.7 (0.65 to 0.82)^a

16 (11 to 29)^b

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)

17

39,881

47

51

0.95 (0.93 to 0.97)^a

31 (24 to 44)^b

Lack of efficacy

   Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

16

6,388

7.2

22

0.4 (0.32 to 0.41)^a

7.4 (6.3 to 8.9)^b

   NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

10

3,690

9.1

23

0.5 (0.45 to 0.62)^a

6.6 (5.9 to 7.6)^b

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)

12

5,186

7.6

7.5

1.0 (0.8 to 1.2)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)

17

39,881

8.8

9.5

0.9 (0.86 to 0.97)^a

145 (80 to 820)^b

Clinical adverse event

   Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

16

6,388

5.1

4.4

1.2 (0.9 to 1.4)

   NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

10

3,690

8.2

3.8

1.8 (1.4 to 2.4)^a

23 (17 to 35)^c

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)

12

5,186

5

8.2

0.7 (0.53 to 0.81)^a

31 (22 to 54)^b

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)

17

39,881

17

18

1.0 (0.94 to 1.02)

Laboratory adverse event

   Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

16

6,388

0.7

0.7

0.9 (0.5 to 1.7)

   NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

10

3,690

0.7

0.6

0.9 (0.4 to 2.1)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)

12

5,186

0.3

0.5

0.6 (0.3 to 1.4)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)

17

39,881

1.2

3.3

0.4 (0.34 to 0.45)^a

49 (43 to 57)^b

Gastrointestinal adverse event

   Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

16

6,388

1.9

1.7

1.3 (0.9 to 1.8)

   NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

10

3,690

4.7

1.6

2.6 (1.7 to 3.9)

33 (24 to 52)^c

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)

12

5,186

2.0

4.1

0.5 (0.38 to 0.73)^a

47 (33 to 85)^b

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)

17

39,881

4.4

7.7

0.6 (0.54 to 0.63)^a

30 (27 to 35)^b

Serious adverse event

   Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

16

6,388

0.9

0.7

1.0 (0.6 to 1.7)

   NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

10

3,690

0.9

0.6

1.2 (0.6 to 2.4)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)

12

5,186

0.7

0.9

0.8 (0.5 to 1.6)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)

17

39,881

5.5

5.3

1.1 (0.98 to 1.2)

Hypertension

   Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

16

6,388

0.4

0.04

1.6 (0.8 to 3.5)

   NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

10

3,690

0.5

0.1

2.0 (0.8 to 4.9)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)

12

5,186

0.5

0.5

1.0 (0.5 to 2.0)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)

17

39,881

2.1

1.3

1.7 (1.4 to 1.9)^a

120 (94 to 180)^c

Oedema

   Etoricoxib versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

16

6,388

0.3

0.1

1.2 (0.6 to 2.6)

   NSAID versus placebo (4 to 12 weeks)

10

3,690

0.4

0.1

1.6 (0.6 to 4.2)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (4 to 12 weeks)

12

5,186

0.3

0.4

1.1 (0.5 to 2.3)

   Etoricoxib versus NSAID (all trials)

17

39,881

1.0

0.7

1.5 (1.2 to 1.9)^a

320 (200 to 720)^c